A pair of Amazon apps have popped up in the Play Store, but they're both for pieces of hardware you can't get yet. The Amazon Echo app is the companion to Amazon's bizarre connected speaker, and the Fire TV remote app adds functionality to the Fire TV Stick. I would wager the second will get more downloads.

The Echo app is light on the description, but it appears to be a way to access the lists, music, and search content managed through Echo. The app actually provides access to this stuff right now, but you obviously need the hardware to take full advantage of Amazon's voice stuff. Oddly, this app has rather limited device compatibility right now. It installs on the LG G3 and the Galaxy S5, for example, but the 2014 Moto X, Nexus 9, and Nexus 5 are a no-go.

As for the Fire TV app, it will add functionality to the inexpensive Fire TV Stick, which is set to ship soon. This device does not come with a voice-enabled remote like the regular Fire TV, but the app lets you add that functionality. You can also enter text with the device's keyboard, which is a lot better than one of those on-screen deals.

Comments

Lupe Fiasco

How hard is it for Amazon to follow at least 60% of Android Guidelines? None of their apps seem to have any effort put into them. I wish Google had stricter guidelines for apps going into the play store but this Android and the pro to it is having the ability to do whatever. Sigh... getting tired of these half assed apps.

Cory S

I'm starting to feel differently. If your app doesn't follow quality and UI guidelines then it should be a sideloaded or third party app store only app. Let's clear some trash off the play store.

Lupe Fiasco

Agreed. I understand the first years with Play Store but I think Google should really start enforcing guidelines for apps coming to the play store. Only problem with it is unfortunately is Google will get backfire if they take some of the most popular apps from the store, and will get called out for not following their own guidelines (Highly doubt this would be a big deal though).

Hockoto

What's wrong with using the review system push down the bad apps?

arana

the ability to do whatever is the reason i like android, i can choose my apps and i can choose the ones i like most, different designs, different apps, different people, if when you talk about guidelines you are referring to design, i oppose, or else we will have an iphone lookalike everything looks the same

Tardaboveme

My Fire Stick shipped today already, can't wait to try it out.

CB

Mine shipped as well. It is expected to arrive this Friday.

Mike

Same here! Glad to know the week of Thanksgiving I will have this to play with. Should get plenty of testing!

Jason Pagliaro

Bah. Mine says not yet shipped and the delivery estimate is December 11. Happy for you jerks, though.

Lexster

Mine did too! Says it'll be here tomorrow.

moelsen8

chromecast support, please. jerks.

Lexster

That's...unlikely to happen unless Amazon completely gives up on making its own devices, which doesn't seem to be happening any time soon.

No go for the Amazon Fire TV Remote app on a Nexus 5 running Lollipop.

ddh819

just got my firetv stick yesterday, voice search on the remote app works, though all i tried was "flappy bird". the remote app is too laggy to play games with though, at least with flappy bird. i do like that it can play music in the background (tried pandora and amazon cloud music) while playing a game.

FelixUnger

That's why I am not really interested in the Amazon Echo, no iOS support which I find amazing. I want to play my Itunes playlist, not use some hodge podge application developed by two drunks in a basement..